Wireless power range increase using parasitic resonators

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a system that includes a first system including a high-Q resonator of a first size, transmitting wireless power via a magnetic field; and a repeater high-Q resonator, of a second size, transmitting said wireless power in an area.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first system including a high-Q resonator of a first size, transmitting wireless power via a magnetic field; and   a repeater high-Q resonator, of a second size, transmitting said wireless power in an area.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said repeater resonator is formed of an inductive loop and a capacitance. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said inductive loop is formed of stranded wire with strands that are electrically isolated from one another. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said first system includes a frequency generator, and a matching system, said matching system including an inductive coupling, and a capacitor on a secondary side of said inductive coupling. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said repeater resonator includes a tuning part that is adjustable to change a resonant frequency of said repeater resonator. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 5 , wherein said tuning part includes a variable capacitance. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 5 , wherein said part only adjusts said resonant frequency in a downward direction. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 5 , wherein said tuning part tunes the inductance of said inductive loop. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein said part is a variable size to change an area of the inductive loop. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 9 , wherein said part is triangular. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein said variable capacitance is a switched capacitance. 
     
     
         12 . A system of at least two high-Q resonators, comprising:
 a repeater resonator, tuned to receive and transfer magnetically-generated wireless power in an area of said repeater resonator.   
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 12 , wherein said repeater resonator is formed of an inductive loop and a capacitance. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said inductive loop is formed of a material that reduces the AC resistance of a wire used for the repeater resonator without increasing an actual cross sectional area of the wire. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 14 , wherein said inductive loop is formed of stranded wire with strands that are electrically isolated from one another. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 12 , further comprising a source resonator that generates magnetic energy. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said repeater resonator includes a tuning part that is adjustable to change a resonant frequency of said repeater resonator. 
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said tuning part includes a variable capacitance. 
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said tuning part only adjusts said resonant frequency in a downward direction. 
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said tuning part tunes the inductance of said inductive loop. 
     
     
         21 . A system as in  claim 20 , wherein said tuning part has a variable size to change an area of the inductive loop. 
     
     
         22 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said part is triangular in its outer shape. 
     
     
         23 . A system as in  claim 19 , wherein said variable capacitance is a switched capacitance. 
     
     
         24 . A system of at least two high-Q resonators, comprising:
 a repeater resonator, formed of an inductive loop in series with a capacitance, said inductive loop is formed of a material that reduces the AC resistance of a wire used for the repeater resonator without increasing an actual cross sectional area of the wire, an LC value of the inductive loop and capacitance defining a resonant frequency at a specified frequency, to receive and transfer said specified frequency of magnetically-generated wireless power in an area of said repeater resonator.   
     
     
         25 . A system as in  claim 24 , wherein said inductive loop is formed of stranded wire with strands that are electrically isolated from one another. 
     
     
         26 . A system as in  claim 24 , wherein said stranded wire is Litz wire. 
     
     
         27 . A system as in  claim 24 , further comprising a source resonator that generates magnetic energy at said specified frequency. 
     
     
         28 . A system as in  claim 24 , wherein said repeater resonator includes a tuning part that is adjustable to change a resonant frequency of said repeater resonator. 
     
     
         29 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said tuning part includes a variable capacitance. 
     
     
         30 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said tuning part only adjusts said resonant frequency in a downward direction. 
     
     
         31 . A system as in  claim 28 , wherein said tuning part tunes the inductance of said inductive loop. 
     
     
         32 . A system as in  claim 31 , wherein said tuning part has a variable size to change an area of the inductive loop. 
     
     
         33 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said variable capacitance is a switched capacitance. 
     
     
         34 . A system of at least two high-Q resonators, comprising:
 a repeater resonator, formed of an inductive loop in series with a capacitance, an LC value of the inductive loop and capacitance tuned to a resonant frequency at a specified frequency, to receive and transfer said specified frequency of magnetically-generated wireless power in an area of said repeater resonator, said repeater resonator including a tuning part that is adjustable to change a resonant frequency of said repeater resonator by tuning the inductance of said inductive loop.   
     
     
         35 . A system as in  claim 34 , wherein said inductive loop is formed of a material that reduces the AC resistance of a wire used for the resonator without increasing an actual cross sectional area of the wire. 
     
     
         36 . A system as in  claim 34 , further comprising a source resonator which generates magnetic power at said specified frequency. 
     
     
         37 . A system as in  claim 34 , wherein said part has a variable size to change an area of the inductive loop. 
     
     
         38 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein said part is triangular. 
     
     
         39 . A system for wirelessly transmitting power to a high-Q resonator, comprising:
 a wireless power transmitter, including a magnetic field generator, that generates a magnetic field at a specified frequency, and a source high-Q resonator that transmits wireless power by producing a magnetic field that has said specified frequency, said source resonator having an inductance, and having a capacitance, forming an LC value that is substantially resonant with said specified frequency, said inductance formed by a conducting loop that extends around a-perimeter of an area.   
     
     
         40 . A system as in  claim 39 , further comprising a repeater resonator, smaller than said loop of said source resonator, and generating said wireless power in an area. 
     
     
         41 . A method, comprising:
 producing wireless power from a first conducting loop that forms a first part of a first high-Q magnetic resonator and which produces wireless power as a magnetic field;   using a repeater resonator, within a range of said first magnetic resonator, to transfer said wireless power; and   receiving said magnetic power that has been transferred by said repeater resonator wirelessly into a portable device comprising a second high-Q magnetic resonator and using said power to power said device.   
     
     
         42 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said first magnetic resonator has a larger outer size than said second magnetic resonator. 
     
     
         43 . A method as in  claim 41 , further comprising using a material that reduces the AC resistance of a wire used for the magnetic resonator without increasing an actual cross sectional area of the wire. 
     
     
         44 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said producing uses a first resonator that surrounds a perimeter of a room. 
     
     
         45 . A method as in  claim 44 , wherein said first resonator is at different height levels in the room. 
     
     
         46 . A method as in  claim 41 , further comprising tuning a resonant frequency of said repeater resonator. 
     
     
         47 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein said tuning comprises changing a value of a variable capacitance. 
     
     
         48 . A method as in  claim 46 , wherein said tuning comprises tuning the inductance of said inductive loop. 
     
     
         49 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said second size is smaller than said first size. 
     
     
         50 . A system for wirelessly transmitting power between at least two high-Q resonators, comprising:
 at least one high-Q resonator; and   a tuning modifying part, formed of a loop whose area is changeable to modify a resonant frequency of said resonator.   
     
     
         51 . A system as in  claim 50 , wherein said tuning modifying part is modified to have a first area to set a first resonant frequency in said resonator, and is modified to have a second area to set a second resonant frequency in said resonator. 
     
     
         52 . A system as in  claim 50 , wherein said resonator includes inductance connected to a capacitance. 
     
     
         53 . A system as in  claim 52 , wherein said tuning modifying part modifies the area enclosed by said inductance. 
     
     
         54 . A system as in  claim 50 , further comprising a circuit, connected to said resonator, for wirelessly receiving power. 
     
     
         55 . A system as in  claim 50 , further comprising a circuit, connected to said resonator, for wirelessly transmitting power. 
     
     
         56 . A method for wirelessly transmitting power between at least two high-Q resonators, comprising:
 using an LC resonator to receive wireless power at a resonant frequency; and   tuning said LC resonator to increase the resonant frequency of said antenna.   
     
     
         57 . A method as in  claim 56 , wherein said tuning comprises modifying a loop whose area is changeable to modify a resonant frequency of said resonator. 
     
     
         58 . A system as in  claim 57 , wherein said tuning controls said loop to a first area to set a first resonant frequency in said resonator, and changes to a second area to set a second resonant frequency in said resonator. 
     
     
         59 . A method for wirelessly transmitting power between at least two high-Q resonators, comprising:
 using an LC resonator to transmit wireless power at a resonant frequency; and   tuning said LC resonator to increase the resonant frequency of said antenna.   
     
     
         60 . A method as in  claim 59 , wherein said tuning comprises modifying a loop whose area is changeable to modify a resonant frequency of said resonator. 
     
     
         61 . A method as in  claim 60 , wherein said tuning controls said loop to a first area to set a first resonant frequency in said resonator, and changes to a second area to set a second resonant frequency in said resonator.